bar
UK[bɑː]US[bɑːr]
n
A long, narrow piece of wood, metal, or other rigid material, used as a barrier, support, or for other purposes.
n
A counter where alcoholic drinks or sometimes other refreshments are served.
n
A unit of pressure.
v
To fasten or secure something with a bar.
v
To officially prevent someone from doing something or going somewhere.
Etymology
The word 'bar' entered English in the 12th century from the Old French 'barre', meaning a rod, beam, or gate. The Old French term likely derives from the Vulgar Latin 'barra', whose origin is uncertain but may be from a Gaulish or other pre-Latin language. The core concept of a straight, rigid piece of material used as an obstacle or barrier has persisted throughout its history. This fundamental sense of a physical barrier logically extended to create a wide range of modern meanings, from the counter that forms a barrier between server and customer, to the legal act of blocking an action, to its specialized use as a unit of measurement in physics.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Old French origin, borrowed into Middle English. Its core form has remained stable.
Examples
The windows had strong iron bars to prevent burglaries.
We met for a drink at the hotel bar.
The athlete was barred from competition for using illegal substances.